Tag: wellington

Minter Ellison Rudd Watts Appoints Three New Partners

Written by John on 02 February 2012. ♦ Moves News  ♦ New Zealand, Wellington

Minter Ellison Rudd Watts welcomes Quentin Lowcay and Richard Gordon to the partnership, and has promoted construction and property expert Janine Stewart to the rank of Partner. Quentin Lowcay has over 16 years’ experience in IT, technology, strategic outsourcing and procurement.  He is a leading expert in assisting organisations to deliver greater long-term commercial benefits through better management of purchasing decisions, supplier relationships, and overall spending. Quentin was previously a partner with Kensington Swan for four years, including as Managing Partner of their office in Abu Dhabi UAE.  He has also worked for Mallesons Stephen Jaques in Sydney and Allen & Overy in London. Richard Gordon is a civil and commercial litigator, with particular expertise in banking and securities law, and insolvency.  With 15 years’ litigation experience, he is a trusted advisor to trading banks on various contested enforcement matters, and to key insolvency practitioners on disputes arising out of receivership and liquidation appointments.  Richard also has considerable experience acting on general civil and commercial litigation cases, including for breach of contract, professional negligence and Fair Trading Act actions.  Richard joins the firm from Buddle Findlay in Wellington. Both Quentin and Richard are based in the firm’s Wellington office. Janine Stewart is a specialist in complex construction and commercial projects and disputes, including defective and leaky buildings. She also advises clients in the energy and resources and the infrastructure industries. Janine returned to New Zealand in 2008 to join the firm after time spent with Walkers Global in the Cayman Islands.  Janine is part of the firm’s growing Auckland construction team, working alongside partners Stephen Price and Mark Crosbie. In announcing the appointments managing partner Mark Weenink said: “Our firm’s focus has been to add to the depth of our existing practices, especially in the areas that we have targeted as opportunities for growth. We are delighted the reputation of the firm continues to attract and retain such impressive lawyers for the benefit of our clients.”

DLA Piper Advises GI Dynamics, Inc on Largest Float in Australia this Year

Written by John on 16 September 2011. ♦ Recent Deals  ♦ Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, Wellington

Global business law firm DLA Piper has advised US-based medical device company GI Dynamics, Inc on its Initial Public Offering (IPO), US private placement and listing on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). With a market capitalisation of about $304 million, GI Dynamics represents the largest float in Australia this year. GI Dynamics raised AUS$80 million through its successful offers and is using the funds to expand the global commercialisation of its flagship type 2 diabetes and obesity treatment product, the EndoBarrier®, which is a non-surgical product which mimics the effect of gastric bypass surgery. CHESS Depositary Interests or CDIs in GI Dynamics commenced trading on 7 September 2011 on the ASX under the stock symbol “GID.” DLA Piper acted as the Australian legal advisor to GI Dynamics in the preparation and launch of the IPO and listing on the ASX, advising across corporate, tax and intellectual property matters. The DLA Piper Australia team was led by Joint Head of Corporate - Asia Pacific, David Morris and Corporate partner Catherine Merity with solicitors Nicole Sloggett, Jack Schmidtke and Emma Harnett in Corporate, Intellectual Property & Technology partner Alec Christie and Tax partner Jock McCormack and senior associate Anshu Maharaj. The team was also assisted by DLA Piper and affiliate lawyers from Hong Kong, Singapore, London and Wellington.

Simpson Grierson is Delighted to Welcome David Cochrane as a Special Counsel

Written by John on 19 January 2011. ♦ Moves News  ♦ New Zealand, Wellington

David joins the firm with over 20 years experience as a senior public law partner at Chapman Tripp and nearly a decade as a Parliamentary Counsel. He has a particular interest in the transport, fisheries and public entities areas, and in assisting clients here and overseas with drafting and submitting on legislation, and negotiating parliamentary processes.